Syndicate

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Trainer Marty Wolfson’s barn on the Gulfstream backstretch is a veritable treasure trove of stakes-winning fillies. The veteran trainer is very likely to add another to his long list of distaff stakes winners in the very near future after the dazzling triumph by Heart Stealer in Sunday’s featured $34,000 Optional Claiming Allowance race.

Heart Stealer, a 3-year-old daughter of Speightstown, broke last from the No. 1 post position at the start of the 6 ½-furlong sprint but recovered quickly under jockey Jilver Chamafi to dominate her six rivals by 10 ½ lengths.

Making her first start for Wolfson at Gulfstream since leaving Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s stable on the West Coast, Heart Stealer ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.06 as the 4-5 favorite.
“She trained great. I’ve had her for six weeks since Baffert sent her to me, and she is what she is,” Wolfson said. “That (No. 1) post, I was so worried about. She probably would have run even faster without that.”

Heart Stealer, who had run twice at Gulfstream for trainer Dale Romans last winter before being sent to Southern California, ran three times for Baffert, including a second- and a third-place finish on turf after setting the early pace.

Cutting back to a sprinting distance and returning to the main track, Heart Stealer captured her second win for Peachtree Stable.

“She’s relaxing. She was very high strung. She opened up in a race that I watched at Hollywood by 15 lengths down the backside on turf,” Wolfson said. “She’s relaxing now. She’s going to be a really good filly.”

Who’s Hot: Jilver Chamafi was the riding star Sunday with four trips to the winner’s circle. In addition to Heart Stealer in the seventh, Chamafi scored aboard: Irbywood ($5.80) in the second, Noble Prince ($11.40) in the third and Country Chapel ($18.60) in the eighth.
Jonathan Gonzales, the Jockey of the Month for October, rode a pair of winners: Indian Rain ($37.20) in the first and Fazed ($7) in the fifth.